Association between physical activity level, self-concept and life satisfaction in Peruvian basic education students; [Asociación entre el nivel de actividad física, autoconcepto y satisfacción con la vida en estudiantes peruanos de educación básica]

Abstract

Introduction: It was found that children's sedentary lifestyle had increased globally, which had a negative impact on the physical and mental health of children. In Callao (Peru) a worrying growth in sedentary lifestyle and obesity was evident. Objective: To evaluate the levels of physical activity, self-concept and satisfaction with life in primary school students, determining the existing relationships between these variables. Methodology: The study was quantitative, descriptive, prospective and cross-sectional, in 162 schoolchildren from 3rd to 6th grade. Validated questionnaires were administered to measure physical activity, self-concept in five dimensions and satisfaction with life, and the data were analyzed using analysis of variance and Pearson correlations. Results: It was identified that 44.4% of the participants were moderately active, with no significant differences by sex. The family dimension of self-concept received the highest scores, while physical self-concept showed moderate levels. Women excelled in the academic, social and family dimensions, and men in the emotional and physical dimensions. Furthermore, 54.3% of schoolchildren reported high satisfaction with life. Discussion: The results coincide with previous studies that showed a positive relationship between physical activity, self-concept and satisfaction with life, especially with regard to physical self-concept. Conclusions: The promotion of educational and physical activity programs, along with the strengthening of self-concept, is fundamental for the comprehensive well-being of schoolchildren. © 2025 Federacion Espanola de Docentes de Educacion Fisica. All rights reserved.